Hawaii remembrance to draw handful of Pearl Harbor survivors

[Free Vulcan]

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — A handful of centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor are expected to gather at the scene of the Japanese bombing on Wednesday to commemorate those who perished 81 years ago.

That’s fewer than in recent years, when a dozen or more traveled to Hawaii from across the country to pay their respects at the annual remembrance ceremony.

Part of the decline reflects the dwindling number of survivors as they age. The youngest active-duty military personnel on Dec. 7, 1941, would have been about 17, making them 98 today. Many of those still alive are at least 100.

About 2,400 servicemen were killed in the bombing, which launched the U.S. into World War II. The USS Arizona alone lost 1,177 sailors and Marines, nearly half the death toll.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-navy/2022/12/07/hawaii-remembrance-to-draw-handful-of-pearl-harbor-survivors/

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They are almost gone.

[mountaineer]

I've never been to Hawaii. Maybe next year we should go around this time of year, and I can promise we'll attend any service of remembrance that may be held - even if there's not a single survivor left.

[Cyber Liberty]

I've never been to Hawaii. Maybe next year we should go around this time of year, and I can promise we'll attend any service of remembrance that may be held - even if there's not a single survivor left.

Visiting the AZ Memorial is an experience you'll never forget.  I've been there.

I took my son, born in AZ, to the Memorial and he asked me why our State Flag was so predominate.  I told him this Memorial was for the USS AZ, and he's a native son. Be proud, he's the only one there who could sat that.  He was.

[libertybele]

Visiting the AZ Memorial is an experience you'll never forget.  I've been there.

I took my son, born in AZ, to the Memorial and he asked me why our State Flag was so predominate.  I told him this Memorial was for the USS AZ, and he's a native son. Be proud, he's the only one there who could sat that.  He was.

 

[catfish1957]

Sadly, That age group is now less than a 250,000 of the 16M who served.  In another 10-15 years, they'll all be gone.

[mountaineer]

Visiting the AZ Memorial is an experience you'll never forget.  I've been there.

I took my son, born in AZ, to the Memorial and he asked me why our State Flag was so predominate.  I told him this Memorial was for the USS AZ, and he's a native son. Be proud, he's the only one there who could sat that.  He was.

I really want to see it.

[Bigun]

Visiting the AZ Memorial is an experience you'll never forget.  I've been there.

I took my son, born in AZ, to the Memorial and he asked me why our State Flag was so predominate.  I told him this Memorial was for the USS AZ, and he's a native son. Be proud, he's the only one there who could sat that.  He was.

So have I, and anyone who can make it around that nearby Submariner's Memorial with dry eyes is a better man than I.

[Cyber Liberty]

I really want to see it.

The Memorial is built as a freestanding building.,not attached in any way to the ship.  To the back of the structure is a big marble plaque, with the names of all the Sailors entombed there.  There is still an oil slick from the bombing.  AFAIK, the AZ is still commissioned.

The presentation prior to taking the shuttle ride to the Memorial is/was very good when I last went, narrated by Susan Serandon.

The AZ was sunk by a lucky hit by the Japs, it drilled down to the powder locker and when it blew, a hush fell over the entire Base.  An unbelievable explosion.